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Midland Bandits Scout Day: Quick Hits

February 26, 2025
Eliott Wilk
Central Region Operations Director

On Sunday, February 9th, the Prep Baseball Missouri staff traveled to The Fieldhouse Training Center in O'Fallon, MO to host the annual Midland Bandits Scout Day. This event, featured 45+ players from the Midland Bandits program in attendence.

All of our events offer players the opportunity to update their recruiting resume and showcase their talents in front of our staff. We also use these events as identifiers for future invite-only events, like the Preseason All-State, our summer Top Prospect Games, and the prestigious Prep Baseball Future Games that takes place at the tail end of the summer. To see what our events offer, click HERE.

Earlier, our staff rolled out the day’s statistical standouts in leaderboard format within our ‘Stat Story’, which you can find HERE. Today, after combing through our notes from the day, we’ve compiled some of the event’s standouts within these ‘Quick Hits’. Read below to learn about 7 names that popped to our staff from Sunday's trip to O'Fallon.

QUICK HITS

+ One of the top uncommitted two-way prospects in the state, RHP/INF CJ Lake (Oakville, 2026) delivered a standout performance on both sides of the ball during Sunday’s scout day. At 6-foot-3, 181 pounds, Lake boasts a projectable frame with impressive strength and raw power. He consistently barreled balls back through the middle during BP, including the event’s hardest-hit ball—a scorching 105.7 mph missile—while averaging 91.4 mph per batted ball. Defensively, he showcased elite arm strength, reaching 94 mph across the diamond and firing a 96 mph dart from the outfield. However, Lake’s most electric work came on the mound. He ran his fastball up to 94.4 mph, sitting comfortably at 91-94 mph with effortless velocity. His secondary offering was equally sharp, spinning a tight, swing-and-miss slider with -13.7 inches of horizontal movement on average. He also flashed a deceptive, low-spin changeup at 78-80 mph, rounding out an arsenal that makes him one of the most intriguing arms in the class, a must see for college coaches.

  

+ Built with imposing strength at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, 1B Cooper Hoog (Seckman, 2026) put his power on full display during Sunday’s scout day. The left-handed slugger took an aggressive approach in BP, looking to elevate balls to the pull side with authority. He led all hitters with a 92 mph average exit velocity, barreling his hardest ball at 96.7 mph. With continued strength gains and refinement, Hoog’s already impressive power is only scratching the surface of what’s to come.

  

+ INF Jackson Nikodym (Duchesne, 2026) delivered a polished, well-rounded performance in this look. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete showcased advanced barrel control throughout BP, peaking at a 91.8 mph exit velocity—though his innate bat speed has shown even more power in-game. Defensively, Nikodym moved fluidly with clean actions and steady hands, topping out at 83 mph across the infield. His blend of offensive feel and defensive reliability makes him a name to watch in the class.

  

+ RHP/INF Kevin Morgan (Fort Zumwalt East) emerged as a true two-way standout in this look. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound, lean, high-waisted athlete impressed on the mound, running his fastball up to 85.3 mph from a low ¾ arm slot while sitting comfortably at 83-85 mph with more in the tank. He complemented it with a sweeping 63-64 mph slider and a fading, low-spin changeup at 73-74 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showcased a knack for hard contact, consistently driving line drives back up the middle and barreling his best ball at 95 mph. Defensively, Morgan’s athleticism and arm strength stood out, reaching 81 mph across the infield. His all-around skill set makes him an intriguing name to follow moving forward.

   

+ C TJ Bender (Lafayette, 2026) impressed on both sides of the ball during Sunday’s trip to O’Fallon. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior showcased a quick, efficient transfer behind the plate, recording pop times between 1.97-2.13 seconds with a 78 mph arm. That arm strength carried over to the infield, where he delivered an 85 mph strike across the diamond. Offensively, Bender displayed a simple, repeatable right-handed swing, staying through the middle of the field with consistency. He barreled his hardest ball at 93.4 mph.

  

+ 1B/OF AJ Flamm (St. Dominic) and OF Blake Ditmeyer (Orchard Farm) stood out as two physical right-handed bats, each flashing mid-90s exit velocities at this event.

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